Domestic abuse is so deep-rooted in communities across Dumbarton and the Vale that ongoing work to tackle the scourge has failed to have an effect.

This was the stark message from a senior official who said a new approach is needed to stamp out the “endemic” misery once and for all.

Beth Culshaw, chief officer of West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership, also told how 900 children were affected by the crime last year, with some living “in a state of anxiety and stress” as a result.

The Lennox Herald previously revealed that West Dunbartonshire has the worst domestic abuse record in Scotland.

Families in the region are more likely to fall victim to domestic violence than any other council area in the country.

Beth told senior councillors, health officials and police how previous efforts have failed to make an impact.

And she said that, despite attitudes changing over time in relation to issues like smoking, attitudes to domestic abuse in the area seem to have remained stagnant.

She explained: “Domestic abuse is a huge challenge in West Dunbartonshire.

“It’s something that’s in the grass roots of our society.

“In terms of the figures, there’s no reflection on the work that’s been happening.

“Other partnerships are improving at a greater speed and there’s something working elsewhere which isn’t working here.

“It remains an endemic problem.”

She said up to 900 children in West Dunbartonshire were affected by domestic abuse last year.

She added: “Ten per cent of children have been party to domestic abuse.

“Children are living in a state of anxiety and stress, leading to a physical reaction for them and leading to mental health problems.”

Now agencies across the area are set to make a pledge and reveal a manifesto in an approach to make the area a safer place.

As part of that West Dunbartonshire Council is launching a new campaign on Friday called No Home for Domestic Abuse.

It aims to protect female victims and their children from being evicted from their homes.

Explaining the campaign at the meeting, chief housing officer Peter Barry said: “We will use existing legal powers to flip the scenario of the perpetrator remaining in the tenancy while the female victim leaves.

“Eight out of 10 cases are cases of male violence against women.

“We will use these powers to ensure the perpetrators are moved.

“We will also use criminal anti-social behaviour orders, which will last for life and follow the perpetrator.

“We see perpetrators commit domestic abuse from relationship to relationship and we want to use every power at our disposal.”

He said social attitudes also needed to be changed, adding: “It’s about reducing the tolerance of acceptance.

“There’s a level of tolerance from women and a level of acceptance from men which has to be broken.

“We need to stop this cycle for the future.”

Other initiatives include police working with local employers, particularly larger companies, to establish domestic abuse champions in the workplace.

A police report which went to the meeting said the move would help work towards a cultural change in domestic abuse.

Officers have already been working with Chivas and Aggreko, the largest private employers in West Dunbartonshire.